Tuesday, 30 September 2014

On my first afternoon in Blandtyre, Malawi, I decided
to go for a walk. Now the roads from
their home are just dirt roads, very dusty and full of pot holes so with my camera
and binoculars I went exploring. I found
a area of scrub ground and thought that might be good for seeing birds but got some
strange looks but there again, I was the only white women around!! The lighting was not great, I knew no
Malawian birds so I found it quite difficult and I just hope that the birds I
found that afternoon on this post are correctly named. If someone can tell me differently, please do
so.

Yellow bellied Sunbird (male)

Eastern Doublecollared Sunbird

Yellow
bellied Sunbird (male)

Yellow
bellied Sunbird (female)

Bronze
Mannikin

Thanks to blogger Jo Hedges from “Memorable Meanders” and
living in Tanzania, she has successful ID’d this bird.

Yellow -rumped Widow (Euplectes capensis) female

Black
eyed Bulbul

Blue Waxbill

House Sparrow

Pied
Crow

Speckled
Mousebird

I
hope you enjoyed these first birds I saw even through some shots are too dark. In all the time (4 weeks) I was in Malawi, I never found a bird watcher who could help me. Also when I got home that day and told Judith where I had been, she told me I was lucky to be alive as there were very dangerous snakes around that area!! Needless to say, I did not repeat the exercise!

Monday, 29 September 2014

This is the day in August that Judith, my daughter,
Daniel and Annika, 2 of my grand children and myself left for Malawi however
after having flown from N.Ireland to London, my other daughter discovered we
had to stay at the airport all day before our next flight and a she, Gillian
and Anna and Matthew, my other 2 grand children were at her mother in laws’
home in Surrey, so she picked us up so that for the last time for (you knows)
we could all spend this day together.
Today, I want to show you this beautiful garden of flowers, vegetables
and birds I found there.

Fox’s Barn

Anna, Daniel and Annika

Matthew is 13 years old and interested in sailing.

Gillian and Judith relaxing (my girls)

Anna is 14 years old and very good at 'doing' hair and loves ballet.

I am sure you agree that
this is a beautiful garden although I don't know the names of all the plants. The post I did last Friday had the pond with beautiful Water Lilies in it from this garden. (CLICK HERE) The garden is open to the public a few times a year. From time to time it was raining and I had to
take the short video through the window, you may wish to see the birds that
came to the feeders.You can access
the video athttp://youtu.be/fpx5653RY8cIf there is a black space
below, click it and the video will appear.Thank you for visiting.Many thanks
for all your comments.

Saturday, 27 September 2014

There are quite a number of cats around Blessingbourne House. Some belong to the owners, Nick and Colleen and others belong to some of
the estate workers. These are some of
the photographs I took of them while I was staying here several months ago.

I hope you enjoyed seeing the cats at
Blessingbourne House and would agree they are all very handsome.

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About Me

I have retired from a medical background, as well as teaching a 3 year City and Guilds; and also running a Bed and Breakfast. I have taken up bird watching later in life however I became very enthusiastic from the beginning and was greatly encouraged by other bird watchers. For the past 9 years I have led a bird group in my town and have become a guest speaker on cruise ships talking about Birds around the world. I have travelled quite a bit, in particular to Australia where one of my daughters lives. I have now as many birding friends there as at home in Northern Ireland. I love Nature and being able to share that with others of like mind. I also like photography and do my best to photograph birds although I seem to be also very eclectic in what I photograph and blog these days.
I live in Northern Ireland which is part of the UK and it is a beautiful place to live however I love travelling to see places and birds that I have never seen before.